Lid lock for centrifugal clothes driers



July 5, 1930. J, C, NELSON ET AL 4 1,770,596

LID LOCK FOR GENTRIFUGAL CLOTHES DRIERS Filed Deo. 10,' 192e IN1/E f 0R.

To WASHER CLurc H Ta DRvaR cLurcH mvo BRAKE.

f2s-.dented duty 15, 193@ unirse stares Win59@ PATENT WAREZ C. NELSON MD PETER E. GELDHOF, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS T@ SYRACSE WSHNG MACHINE CORPORATON, OIE' SYRACUSE, -NEW YORK, A COR- :LED .1490K :FOR CENTREFUGAL CLOTHES `IDlRIERS Application December 10,

riihis invention relates to a mechanical clothes washer and centrifugal drier of the class set forth in our pending application Se- -placed is rotated at sufficient speed to expeditiously expelthe Water and moisture therefrom by centrifugal force and m order to eX- f clude external objects from Contact with the rotating container and also to prevent the operator and others-fromY placing their hands or other members upon said rotating container a suitable lid or super-imposed cover is movably mounted upon ay suitable supporting frame so as to extend entirely across the opening through which the clothes are inserted and removed to and from the container, said cover being movable to and from av position across sai/d opening.

The operation of the container is controlled by aclutch and brake mechanism through the medium of a hand-operated controlling member placed in convenient position for' operation so that when thrown to one position the I `clutch will be engaged for'rotating the container and when thrown to another position j will be released and the brake .applied'to stop further rotation of the container, and the main object of the present invention is to provide means actuated by the controlling member when moved to its clutch-engaging position for locking the lid in its closed position and for leaving the locking means inl its locking position when'the controlling member is moved to its clutch-releasing and brakeapplying position so that thelid cannot be I Y opened untiLthe locking means is restored by hand to its lid-releasing position.

' Another-object is to prevent the actuation of the-'controlling members and locking means until the vlid has been closed.

Otherobjects and uses relatingto specic chine.

1926. Serial No. 153,854.

parts of the device'will be brought out in the following description.

1n the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan of a centrifugal drier and adjacent portion of a washing ma- Figure 2 is an enlarged verticalsectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the planeof line 3 8, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken in the plane of line 4 4, Figure 3.

ln order that the invention may be clearly understoodwe have shown a portion of a washing machine A- and a centrifugal drying apparatus similarto that set forth in our pending application previously referred to in that it comprises an upright shell or casing B in which is placed a rotary con-V tainer C having a top or cover 0 rev- 'oluble therewith.

A frame or shelf D is mounted upon the upper open end of the outer casing B and is provided with an opening oZ- adapted t-o be closed by a lid E which is movable to and from a position across the opening Z and also to and from a position across the top c of the container C The lid E- is preferably hinged at e to the frame or shelf D to swing vertically tcc and from a position across the openmg The cover cfor the upper end of the container O is rotatably mounted upon the lid E on a supporting stud (not shown) depending from lid\E and is movable therewith into and out of engagement with the upper end of the container as the lid E is moved about its pivot.

The means for operating and controlling the rotation of the container O is quite similar to that set forth in our pending application referred to and involves the use of an upright tubular shaft 1 and inner upright shaft` 2 extending through and becasing -B- is mounted and is provided at its lower end with a crank arm -5- adapt-ed is provi ed with a handle -7- by which it may be moved angularly to` different positions for en aging and releasing the control.

ling clutch or the washing mechanism.

The shaft -2- is journaled within the tubular shaft -land the upper frame D and is provided lat its lower endwith a crank arm -8- adapted to be connected by a link -9- to a combined clutch shifting ling the operation of the rotary container of the centrifugal drier as shown in our pending application previously referred to.

These shafts -1 and -2- are co-axial and parallel with the axis of the container -C- and outer casing -B- andare located u just outside of the casing in more or less opposed relation to the pivotal connection -ebetween the lid E and frame -D so as to bring the upper end of the inner shaft -2 in prokimity to the periphery of the lid -E and thus permit the convenient locking and releasing of the lid in and from its closed position by the angular movement ofthe inner shaft -2- in a manner presently described.

For this latter purpose a locking disk -`10 is journaled for angular movement upon the upper end of the inner shaft -2- to rest upon the upper face of the adjacent portion of the frame D so that when adjusted rotarily to one position a portion thereof will overlie or ride against the uper face of a keeper plate 11- on the adjacent marginal edge of the lid E for locking said lid in its closed position and when reversed oradjusted to another osition it will be withdrawn from interloc ing engagement with. the keeper -11- to release the lid.

The locking disk l0- is provided with a radially projecting handle #12*- whereby it may be shifted by hand in reverse directions to its lid-locking yand lid-releasing positions independently of the shafts -1 and -2-.'

The inner shaft -2- which is used to control the clutch and brake mechanisms for the container -C-f extends through and some distance above the locking disk 10 and is provided with a separate operating disk -13- keyed or otherwise secured thereto to rotate therewith in close proximity to the upper face of the locking disk 10 as shown in Figures 2 and 4, said disk 13 and brake-operating mechanism for controlwhich it, together with the shaft -Qr`, may be adjusted angularlyfor operating the clutch and brake-operating mechanisms for the container -C-.y

r1`he locking disk 10" and clutch and brake-controlling disk -18- are provided with cooperative means whereby when the locking disk -10- is in its normal lid-releasing position as shownin' Figure 3, and the clutch and brake-controlling disk 13 is in its clutch-releasing and brake-,applying position, the angular adjust-ment of the disk W13- to its clutch-engaging and brake-releasing position will automatically effect' a corresponding angular adjustment of the locking disk -10- into locking engagement with the keeper l1- (providing the lid -E- is closed for holding) said lid in its closed position during the rotation of the container- CM caused by the engagement of its controlling clutch.

`For this purpose the disk -lO- is provided with an upstanding lug or shoulder 15- normally projecting into ythe path of movement of a portion -16- of the upper disk ,-13- some distance to one side of the. axis of the shaft -Qfso that when the disk --13- is adjusted angularly from its clutchreleasing and brake-applying position to its clutch-engaging and l brakereleasing position, the portion -16- of the disk -13- will engage the lug -15- and effect a corresponding angular adjustment of the disk 10- until a portion thereof is super-posed upon or engaged with the upper surface of the keeper l1-.r

The disk -10- is provided at one side of the shaft -2- with a concentric slot 17- adapted. to receive a stop pin -18- on the stationary frame member -D-, Figures 2 and 3, said slot being of just sufiicient circumferential length to permit the angular adjustment of the disk -10 from its normalnl'id-releasing position to its lid-locking position and viceeversa at which time the ends of the slots will engage opposite faces of the stop pin.r-l8. 1

u 1`his angular movement of the disk -10` is just sufficient to permit the corresponding angular adjustment of the clutch and brakecontrolling disk -13- from its brake-applying and clutch-releasing positions to its 'brake-releasing and clutch-applying posinitrates direction indicated by arrow' Figure l, by means of its handle -14r thereby eftecting a corresponding angular adjustmentmechanism `for rotating the container w-C-- and at the same time moving the disk linto locking engagement with the keeper -llas shovvn by dotted lines in Figure 3, these angular movements of both disks being limited by the stop pin -l8- engaging the right hand end of the slot -17-.

Vthen it is desired to stop the rotation of the container -C- the disk 13- and its shaft Q -may be restored to their starting positions by hand independently of the disk -l0 Which may remain in its lid-locking position thereby releasing the clutch and applying the brake to stop the further rotation of the container.

lWhen the rotationof the container has ceased the disk 10- may be restored by hand to its normal lid-releasing position as shown in Figure 3 or, if desired, both disks may be simultaneously returned to their nor mal positions by simply returning the disk lO- by means of its handle -12- under which conditions the lug lwhich is then in engagement With the shoulder i6- Will automatically engage said shoulder and thereby return the disk 13- toits starting position.

Suitable means is provided for lpreventing the operation of the disks -13- and and shaft --2- from their normal positions when the lid -E-- is opened andl for this purpose is provided a yielding detent -19- consisting, in this instance, of a plunger movable vertically in a socket -20- in the frame -D- in proximity to the inner face of the lug 15- When the disk l0- .1 is in its normal lid-releasing position so that when the lid -E- is opened the upper end of the detent -19- Will be forced into engagement With the inner face of the lug l5- by means of a coiled spring -21-, Figure 4, said detent being provided with a shoulder 22- adapted to engage the underside of the adjacent portion of the disk 10- to limit its upward movement.

It is now evident that when the detent -19- is in its holding position in engagement With the inner face of the lug -15- or adjacent portion of the'disk -10- it Will serve to hold said disk -10- against angular movement to its lid-locking position While the shoulder 15- on the disk 10- Will serve to hold the disk -13- against angular movement to its clutch-engaging position. v

The lid -E- or rather its keeper plate -ll-" is provided With a pressure plate -23- which, when the lid is closed, engages the upper end of the detent-19eandby its ovvn Weightl depresses said plunger against the action ont its operating spring -21- below the plane of movement of the disk -10- to permit the angular adjustment of the disk -lO- from its lid-releasing to its lid-locking position and also permitting a corresponding angular adjustment of the disk -l3- to its clutch-engaging and brakereleasing position for causing the rotation of the container --C-.

rlhis safety Vdevice is highly vimportant in machines of this character in that it reduces to a minimum the liability oit accidentsand injury to the machine arising from contactv of external objects With the rotating container for the reason that it prevents opening of the lid While the machine is in operation and also prevents operation of the machine When the lid is opened, but it is evident that various changes may be made in ot the device Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

rEhe stop pin -18- together With an additional stop pin -18- are vertically movable in an opening/in the frame-d); and are spring-pressed in opposite directions\by an interposed spring -18- for Jfrictionally engaging the underside of the member the detail construction of the various parts -l-S- and the upper face oi the controlling member -7 to friotionally hold those parts in their adjusted positions or rather to prevent` accidental displacement thereof from their adjusted positions.`

rllhe lovver face of the member -13- and upper face of the member -7- may be provided With notches-or pockets for receiving the adjacent ends of the pins .-18- and -v-ll' when the latter are adjusted to different positions and thereby to assist in holding those parts against accidental movement.

What We claim is l /l. lin a centrifugal clothes drier, a rotary clothes container, a frame surrounding the upper end of the container, a lid hin ed to the frame to swing verticallyto and rom a position across the top of the container, a controlling member movable about a vertical axis from a neutral position to another posi- `tion to cause the rotation of thecontainer,

and a detent normally holding the controlling' member against said movement when the lid is opened, said detent being tripped :from its holding positiony by the closing or the lid. l 2. in a centrifugal clothes drier, a rotary, clothes container, alid movable to and from a position across the top of the container, a controlling member movable from a neutral position to another position to cause the operation of the container, a lid-,locking member actuated by the controlling member for locking the lid in its closed position, said controlling member being returnable to its neutral Elm lpsition independently of the locking mem- 3. In a centrifugal clothes drier, a rotary clothes container, a lid movable to and from a position across the top of the container, a controlling member movable from a neutral position to another position to cause the rotation of the container, a detent movable into the path of said member when the lid is opened to hold said member against said movement, means actuated by the lid when closed for, displacing the detent from its holding osition, and spring means for actuating the etent to its holding position.

4. In a centrifugal clothes drier', a rotary clothes container, a lid movable to and from a position across the top of the container, a controlling member movable from a neutral position to another position to cause the operation of the container, and a lid-locking member actuated by the controlling member to lock the lid in its closed position, said locking member being movable to itslid-locking position independently of the controlling member.

5. In a centrifugal clothes drier, a rotary clothes container, a lid movable to and from a position across the top of the container, a controlling member movable from a neutral position toanother position to cause the operation of the container, a lid-locking member actuated b the controlling member to lock the lid imits closed position, and means on the lid-locking member'when returned to itslid-releasing position foizreturning the controlling member to its neutral position.

6. In a centrifugal clothes drier, a rotary clothes container, a lidmovable to and from a position across the top of the container, a controlling member movable from a neutral position to another position to cause the operation of the container, a lid-locking member actuated by the controlling member to lock the lid in its closed position, and means for limiting the movement of the lid-locking member to its lid-locking position and to its lid-releasing position. i

7. In a centrifugal clothes drier, a rotary clothes container, a lid movable to and from a position across the top of the container, a controlling member movable from a neutral position to another position to cause the operation of the container, such controlling member being returnable to its neutral position independently of' the lid-locking member, a lid-locking member actuated by the controlling member to lock the lid in its closed position, said locking member being movable to its lid-locking position independently of the controlling member and being provided with means when returned to its lid-releasing position for returning the controlling member to its neutral" position, and means limiting the movement of the lid-locking member to its lid-locking position and to its lid-releasing position.

8. An extractor comprising a vat, a cover hinged to the vat and adapted to close lthe upper end of the vat, a rotary container within the vat, means controlling the application of power to ing member, a pivotally supported member movable over the cover to lock the cover, and means in connection with said rocking member for moving the pivotally supported member over the cover to lock the cover when said rocking member is brought to a position to cause the application of power to the cortainer. Y

9. An extractor comprising a vat, a cover hinged to the vat and adapted to close the upper end of the vat, a rotary container within the vat, means controlling the application of power to the container including a rocking member, a pivotally supported member movable over the cover to lock the cover, and means in connection with saidrocking member for moving the pivotally supported member over the cover to lock the cover when said rocking member is brought to a position to cause the application oi' power lto the container, said rocking member being mov- 'able to its original position independently of the locking member.

10. An extractor' comprising a vat, a cover hinged to the vat and adapted to close the upper end of the vat, a rotary container within the vat, means controlling the application of power to the container including a rocking member, a pivotally supported member Amovable over the cover to lock the cover, and means in connection with said rocking member for moving the pivotally supported member over the cover to lock the cover when said' rocking member is brought to a position to cause the application of power to the container, said rocking member being movable to its original position independentl of the locking member, and a handle for sliifting the locking member to the inoperative position when the rocking member has been returned to its original position.

11. An extractor comprising a vat, a cover hinged 4to the vat and adapted to close the upper end of the vat, a rotary container with- "in the vat, means controlling the application of power to the container including a rocking member, a pivotally'A supported member movable over the cover to lock the cover, and means in connection with said rocking member for moving the pivotally supported member over the cover to lock the cover when said rocking member is brought to a position to cause the application of power 'to the container, said rocking vrmember being movable to its original position independently of the locking member, and means preventing rocking movement of said rockthe container including a rockl ing member when the cover is in the open position. Y

12. .An extractor comprising a vat, a cover hinged to the vat and adapted to close the upper end of the vat, a rotary container Within the vat, means controlling the application ofpovver to the container including a rocking member, a pivotally supported member movable over the cover to lock the cover, and means in connection With said rocking member for moving the pivotally supported member over the cover to lock the cover when said rocking member is brought to a position to cause the application of power to the container, said rocking member being movable to its original position independently of the locking member, and means preventing rocking movement of said rocking member when the coverk is in the open posltion.

ln Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 1st day of December, 1926.

JABEZ C. NELSON. PETER E. GELDHOF. 

